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Chapter 3: Look After You

Y/N POV

If there's one thing that I'm certain of, it's that the old saying 'time flies when you're having fun' certainly applies to spending time with the Pugh family in Oxford. It's fun, but also exhausting.

It feels like we just got here, but tomorrow is our last day before heading to Venice.

We've spent the majority of our time so far exploring Oxford. Florence wasn't kidding when she said I'd get to experience Oxford the way she does. Between her and the rest of her family, this place that was brand new to me just a few days ago has become a place that I feel truly comfortable in. A place that I could easily see myself spending down time.

I'm scrolling mindlessly through Instagram while Florence showers and goes through her nightly routine when my phone vibrates in my hand. I have a text from my brother.

Fletcher
Hey! Think fast...answers only! Does this look ok?

I read the question before looking at the picture he also sent. I'm very confused about why my brother is currently in a suit that definitely doesn't belong to him, based on the fit. However, he still looks pretty good. He cleans up well. In the spirit of replying to his message as requested, I type my response.

                                                                     Y/n
To answer your question, you look fine. Very dapper. But now that I've answered...why are you wearing someone else's suit?

I send my response, expecting another text in reply. Fletcher has other plans, apparently. Instead of my phone vibrating with another text, it starts ringing instead.

"What's up?" I answer casually.

"Hey! Sorry to bother you, I'm sure you're busy. But I needed your stamp of approval. I'm not exactly used to dressing so....formal." My brother says.

I chuckle at the situation. "I'm not busy, just laying in bed waiting on Florence to finish her nightly routine so we can watch some shitty tv show. Now care to explain why you're in a suit?" I reply.

I can all but hear Fletcher's nerves in the silence before he speaks. "Because I have to wear a suit for work." He says.

"Work? What do you mean work? I thought we agreed that you'd focus on school and getting an internship?" I ask, reminding him of our deal.

Fletcher sighs. "I know. I know I promised you that I'd make school my number one priority. And it is, I swear! This is just a night job anyways. I'll start waking up a couple hours earlier to study and do all that shit then. I just...I just need some money, ya know?" He explains.

It's my turn to sigh. "Fletch...I'm sorry that I haven't been doing the best job at making sure you're taken care of. You know if you need money or literally anything, all you have to do is tell me...." I begin before he cuts me off.

"Shut up, y/n. You've already done literally everything for me. I'm almost 23 years old. I should be working. You worked and scraped by for both of us while you were in school. It's my turn to work and scrape by. Think of it as a rite of passage or something." He says with a playful laugh. I know he's trying to make me feel better, but it isn't working.

"Fletcher...."

"No, y/n. I promise, it's all good. It's just a night job a few nights a week. And if it gets to be too much, I'll start doing weekends only. And hopefully next semester I'll have enough networking to land a sweet paid internship. But for now, I've got it. I promise. Don't worry about me. I'm a man now, I don't want to just live off my rich ass sister. Or Hailee. My first check is going right back to her." He adds. I'm taken aback by his last statement.